Outlet or junction box



Aug. 5, 1930. o. c. HOFFMAN OUTLET OR JUNCTION BOX Filed Nov. 13, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6%6 C. J5) marl ju/nzw'.

g- 5, 1930- o. c. HOFFMAN 1,772,313

OUTLET 0R JUNCTION BOX Filed Nov. 13, 1924 2 Shouts-Sheet 2 Iii/bless; I] avast l d With the above T v TBTI FALQ NEW-Y ov'rns'r ermanent); Y i

' .1. Application filed November 13, eas tiseria 110,749,635.

invention relates to improvements outlet or junction boxes,ai1'd moreiparticu larly to that typeiof sectional box capableiof being 'enlarged or reduced in size.'[ 11 is Ithasfor'oneof its. objects thezprovision of anoutlet or'junction boxof the sectional type 'Wherein'provision is made for quickly bo'xtogethen' Anew f ec vision =of adjustable means for attaching'zan outlet of j unction'box to a Walhthe attaching 'i'neans? being so constructedthatit canbese 1 and conveniently connecting the? sectionsof a] in 1- -13lw-movable'walls. ,1, of myinventionis thepro f cured with equal facility to a plastered, Wall or to man constructed of beaver'bearcl, zplas-,

' ter boardjor'like material? t "A further object of my lHVGIItlOIIISItO provide 'an'outlet on junction box" withacljusb justed position Without the ,manipulationof screws, this being highly desirable edue' t'o the fact that when using screws to tighten the v brackets in adjusted position,considerable time is required,- which results in increased cost of installatlon; and, moreoven as gen er'ally eni ployechi'theuse of screwsfor tightening the brackets necessitate the adjusting 0f the brackets before placing. the outlet .01

ed therefor.

provision of means for adjusting-thexsecuring or be set into 'th'e wallto anydesirecl 'clegree; A still further-object of myinvention spto provide improved {and quick 'acting'EmeanS after adjusting the same; x 7 A still further object ojf myinventionis the provision of improved rneans for con: nectingf thesections of an outlet Ior junction boittogetherf m and other objects in vi'eiv, my invention consists in the-novel features of construction andin the arrangement and combination of parts i to f be hereinafter de scribedand more particularly set forth inthe appendecl cl'aims. U 1

" 6t's:a.detaohecl perspectiveView of the :lockmg devices OO ope'rating. {with the able securing brackets maintained in any'j adjunction box in the opening in a wallprovid+ n furthen object of m invention/eisj the for locking the securingbnacketsin position lnthe-drawingszs i "I 1 View of an outlet box constructed :of a single I section having op-v posite removable'walls. L v F Fig.':.2i is a perspective view of, one ofthe orna'o o Bowman; on narrate; NEW YORK," sssmnow To pH nI NcEY jYHA'I CH, or]

sections havingthe removable Walls-removed 'e therefrom;

v Ei'gifiis aperspective vievv otone therei g4 r llis anenlarged! f rag 'inentanji horizon-j talgsectwn: taken on 5 line 4-+: l; Fig '1, look- I Fig. 5isadetached'perspectivevievvof at ofthesecuringzbrackets. A Y I of one securing brackets anoLWithrther vvalls 'o'f the box vagaiiist'swhich the brackets areflretainedi =F- gl 7jis'an;end-viewof thedev'ice; F1g8 isI aside .view of the device: :'Eig; 9Tisza: horizontal sectiontaken on line 9+9','Fig.7.

l. Fig lO I isfa horizontal seat of a 1511-" largecl-"outlet or junction: box formed of three secti'onsgcthe sections being taken on thesame pl'ane=as.T ig.9.+-

Fig."lll: isa fragmentarysitle of the;

outlet or junctionfbox shown in F ig.y'10; one

1 of the corner connectors being relnovedav r I :F Fig."12isahoriz0ntal sectionftaken on line' eFigg l'iris a sect-ioiirtakenoniline i Fig; .14 :is" oneo f the corner l connectors attaching the removable tion,-'i while -in Figs} 10 'andtjll anoutlet 01' j,

JUIICtlOII'bOX fornie d of a pluralityofsectionsisshown m .*1 j

Walls rte-the 150615 -port-ion'ofthe box f 15;isa"detachedtperspective viewof 7 one='fof theotlier.icornenyrconnectors;which,

Having reference to an" outlet or junction box fomned of a single section; thereference numeral 17 designates the complete box formed of-three main parts 13, 19 and 20. Thepart 18 is what I term the body portion or a section formed of a sheet ofmetal bent into substantially U-formation to provide a .bottom 21 and side walls 22 rising from opbody portion or section arethrfdre' open piecesof sheet metal, preferably ofth'eT same' stockl from which theib'oxsisgeonstructe d; and

, each is of angular formation havin'gazone member? 25 thereof provided with-inturiied clench earsi26flat its: upper and lower-"edges; and the other or angular member 27thjereof' proi i'cled with aserewghold28 fornfed therein, said member 27 being also provided-"atits outer-fend: with an inwardly dii'ected retainer; lip? 29. 1 Eachflof the? plates 19, is provided? witlr two spaced openin'gsg30 and j the inem'ber ofeabh 'connehtori 23' lies in contact with the outer 'surfa' ce' ofan: end plate and has the clench e'arsi26 of'said member passed through='said openings 30;:sa'id clench ears being headed, or bent at an angle; atfthe' o i r are: permanently 4o throdgh' afsloti3l formed in each ofsaid side a. screw hole 36 plate so that the connectors attached w said-plates. i I :Tlie: other member 27 Y of 2- each. I connector 23 lies against one of the side wall 22pfithe section or body portionl18 arid the inwardlydi'rected ."retai'nerdifi 29 thereofpassed wen SecuringT'screws 32 arepassed'throiigh the screw holes 280i the connector. 23 an-d are threadedsintotappedscrew holesi33ixithe side walls 22.

' Each of the; coma-S reetings: a mall price ofsheet metal; preferably f if h same gage as that used forthe cdnnectors23; and-it has: tea or 3 straight: body portion? 34 provided with; clench. ears 352 at its upper and lower edg'e'sx Said flatibody portion has' 7 formedithereinyand at one end thereof; which maybe'terme'dfitsouter end, it is provided with a retainerlip-B'T arranged: at a'ri glit a'ngle to said body p ortiom/ r Y fl 1 T-he scre'w lidles36 of the connectors-'24 are not afdapted 'for j use at therco'rnersf ofa box but they are adapted to have screwspasse'd thereth rjougli when using said: connectors to eonneettwo orzmo're sect ons together, as will be llesribed:hereinafter:1 1

' vertically:

The body portion 34 of each connector 24: lies against the outer surface of one of the sidewalls, and the clench ears thereof are passedthrough spaced openings 38 formed in the side walls 22 of the section or body portion-518:ofthebox, th'eends of said clench earsbeing-b'ent against the inner surface of said-side walls so as connectorsto said Section or body portion,

' "Front are" ieigeing .it'willb'e clearth'at tlil conn ec tors 23 are permanently secured to thepl'ates orgend walls 19, 20, while the connectors 24 are permanently secured to the side walls 22 and haveptheir retainer lips 37 directed at a right angle to said side walls so as to lieagainst the outer sidesof said plates or-end walls. Each plate orfendtwal-l has a of; spaced ears- "39' extending from one vertical edge thereof, 'andin positioning these plates against the bodyportion of the box; each plate is placed against a the body portion and direeted 'behindrt he' retainer lip 37 of on'eofatlie connectors .24; theylea-rs 39 straddling the body portion ofsaidconnector-"soithat'tlie upper earof the pair bears against: the upper edge of said body portion while ftlie lower ear; bears against-the, lower edgethere'o'fi InthiS' ma-nnerthe plate is.

Held against; vertical" movement j and; also outward movement "due to the ,fact that it is retainedbyT- thelip 37 of said con nectorix VVhen positioning thef plates ;or end walls behind the retainer lips '37 of the 'connectors 24 with'thesp'a'ced cars 39 thereof straddling said connectors; the connectors 23 permanently "attachedtorsaidplates or end walls will have their angular; members; 27 brought into contact with the sidewalls of said body'portion, and the retainer lips 29 of sa'idi angular membersipassed through theslots 3 1 in said side walls. The retainerlips 29 serve to pre; vent: movement" of said plates or endwalls By passing the screws32 throughfthe screw holes 28 in the angular members 27; of the connectors. '23, the plates: or. end walls 19, 20 are securely fastened-to the body; portion of the device'-.- Viewing-:eitherof the/plates 19,'- 20; from' the 'outside; the connector 23 1 is permanently atta'chedtothe right hand margin'al portion thereofpand the spaced cars '39 extend from thef-lefthand edge of the plate, andsince the connectors 24 are at diagonally-oppositecorn'ers of the bodyportion theplates will be exact counterparts and either may be secured to one omhe other end of thebodyj portion.

Extending outwardly from the upper edge ofthe-side w'alls22of said body portion, are perforatedlugs 40 designed to provide means for attaching a cover to'the box,,-or a face plate,',depending on the use to which the box is'to :befpu-t. v.

In Figs. 10 arr d1 1, the box is shown' as con:

to securely fasten said V structedof a'pluralityof sections. so as" to increase thesize'of'the box, the sectionsbeing enact counterparts; .In theserfigures I have shown three sections, but it willibe apparent that two or more than-threeisections may be Forconnectingvone seic'tionto another the connectors 24am used, and the clench ears extending from opposite edges of said con:-

nector are passed through the openings 38 in one of the side walls of eachsection; The:

clench ears 35, afteribeing passed throiigh said openings, are bent at an angle so asto Llieagainst the inner surfaceof said s dewall.

These connectors aretherefore permanently attachedtoone, of the side wallsof, each section and when joining ,two or ino're sections togetherthe rctainer lips 31? of said connectors are passed through the slots 31 i-nltheyside walls of adjoining sections, thus preventing separation of the sections in a directionparallel with said s dewalls. It is to be noted that a connector, such as 24=, 1s secured to one side wall only of eachendsection, while the; intermediate, section ,or' sections,; as the case maybe, will have such connectorsperinanently, secured: to opposite side walls at diagonally opposite points. i

' Wet theleft at one sideof the box,f while The connectors 52. have theirretainer lips those at the other side thereof have theirre-- Fig. 10.

tainer lips at theyright, as clearly show'nin 1 In order to preventrelative movement of the sections in a; direction I parallel with the meeting edges thereof, screws 41" are passed throughthe screw holes 36 in said connectors, 1 and threaded into the tappedflscrew holes 33 in said side walls. ayln thislmanner, the sec:

tions of the box are rigidly 'connectedtogethcr, and in; effect the structure will be the same as thoughforniedrof a single'piece joit material. The-en'dplates or walls 119, 2,0 and each of the side walls 22' and the bottom 21 of each section have knockouts J 42 formed by stamping the material from which the box is i constructed with a circular cut exte'nding almost through the material; this being, however, common and well known n the art. 7 p

, From the foregoing lt w -ll be clear that rach section has a vertical slot31 in each of itsside walls and a tapped ;scrc w .hole, 33 directly above the. same, thesetwobem .ar-

ranged at diagonally opposite points. on the section, as clearly shown in Fig, 2.- These slots and screw holes are formed through one. 5 of the vertical marginal portions of each side wall. Aft the oppositefverticalinarginalpor tion of each side wall, therspac'ed openings 38 are arranged in vertical alinemenai and these vertically-aimed openings are also posed at diagonally opposite points It will therefore be plain that the'spaced; openings 38 of all sectionsare adaptedto ,re-u.

ceive the clenchxears 35015 the straight confnectors 24;, It-will alsoibe olear, upon-e;;arni,g nation of Figs; 1. and V 10, "that, theslots 3Y1 and; screw'holes 33 directly above said sl'ots,

angular connector 23 or the straight lconnecie a of a single section or a plurality of sections, While the straight connector is used; at the corners ofa singleor a multiple-section box,"

tor -24.- The angular connector is a at: all times, used at a corner. of a box, whetheraconstructed and also for joining two or more-sections off 3 v a multiple-'sectiombox.

,. The. connectors 23,; 24 I are so when applied to the corners of ajstructillfe fQ Y; connectnigthe end plates or walls tothe body r portion thereof, said endplates: are-,held against'vertical movement and against trans-.z verse movement in one direction by oneot said connectors, and againstvertical move-g ment and transverse movementin the, other direction bythe other connector, and .the con'e nectors, employed for. connecting, the sections of an enlarged boxtogetherareso constructed that they, prevent: relative gll'lQjVGHlQlll] for said sections-inany direction w I-have devised a qnickfact-ing a jn stablegsecuring device' 'for the box for attaching. the

same to; a wall, the securing device permitting the box to be asfreadilysecuredito a beaver board, plasterboard,;or other like wall, as to aplastered wall having a ooden;

or-other foundation a For the purpose of placingthe box into] Wall, the wall is fprovided with an opening or depression, depending onthe thickness of the same, and my securing device s,;designated' by the-numeral 4:3, are applied to, opposite sides of the box. Each securing device in 'cludes a bracket 44 formedof a- 1pieceof. shee t metal bent into angular formation to',form,

abody portion 45,:and asecuring-flange {16; ex, l

tending"; outwardly along the jnpper endof said body portion. The; body portion near each vertical edge thereof ispr ovided with 161147 and on the inner side in ClOSQ-PI'OXiDfk .ity to one of said slots isa verticallyalispjosecl" groove 48. The metal' foriningeach'bracket hasan pe 49 or ed therein t t 1mm,

tion ofthe body portionwith its flange, said openingextending into the body portion and partly into said flange so that-saidflange will not come in contact with the lug 40 extending outwardly from the upperend of the side Wall 22 to, which said bracket is secured. That portion-of the opening {i9 whichextends into the bracket to'be movedtoits outermost;po-

the body portion ofthe bracketfurnishesthe necessary clearanceto enable the flange of edge o f the body portion of the bracket to said;

opening 49: The-body portions of the brack ets 44 a 1-e plnced againstthe side walls-of the box, and combined retainer and guidescrews rare-passed thmugh the sl-ots47thereot and v threadedfinto said: side walls, the 1 heads of said screws being slightly spaced from or bearin -"loosely against theo'uter surface of;

saidbody portion. I, a 1 ='1he inner'-ends of the screws-50 preterably terminate' flush with the inner surfaces of the side =wa'lls", and are soldered-so that they cannot be rotated; as clearly sh'own'a't '51 in Fig. 4i Rotationzof the screws-may, however,

be prevented by any'other means, or itdesired, the screws may be tl'ir'eaded into the side walls Without provi'cl ingjlneans to" prevent rotation thereof. These sc're-ws,-; by reason of the'fact that'the heads thereof are vertically on said side walls, and'lfor 'th is-rea-c sonthe scr'ews and the slots in said brackets,

' 'th'rcmgh i which the screws i are passed, nlay be referred-to-as guiding means s'ide walls 22,-the walls otthevertical grooves 48 011 the-innersides of said brackets co-operat with a? vertical portion of said side walls, formingvertical holes 52"ot which said side walls form part1; 1

Arrangedin the-groove 48 of each b'ra'cket 44, 01 more particularly in the hole-52, which sa'id' groove" also forms part I of',""is clamp element'53 formed ofa pieceot wire or rod 'olj' substantially oval formation in cross sec-' tion, the lower end of the wire for'rod extend ing, down beneath the loweredge of the body portionof s'a-id' b'racket and-being bent out- 'wardly, as at 54,to form a retainerear which preventsthe wire or rod T from being drawn upwardly; through 'said'hole; At its'upper end "said wire or rod is bentIa-t-aright angle,

.' as at 55, to fo'rm' a 'handle'for' turningthe clamp element; Vhen' the handle extends 'outwar'dly'at a right angle to the face orside of "the box', th'e' wire o'r'rod forming the clamp element is' positioned loosely within" the hole- 52 and allows the bracket to} be Tmoved upwardly 'o'r downwardly on the box tofany desireddegree so that the; flange of-said V bracketwill'be'positioned in line with* the ed 0f. theside wall," or any desired distance" rom -said'upper'edge;

By rotatin'g the' wire orrod within its; hole 52, 'it wilhengage the wall of the groove 48 in thebracket and force the bracketoutwardgy awa froinitheside wall ofthe bo'x'and in rm" contact with theheads oi": the screws 50.- Th'e grooves in the brackets are so formed 7 that they are of greater width than the oval rod is turned to assume a position at an'angle, to-the' side wall of the box, thewireorrod acts as a cam andforces the bracket. outward ly.u'Attention -is invited to'the fact that the:

angular upper-end orhandle of-therod is positioned at slight angle'to a plane pass,

ing through the major axis of that portionot the wire or rod passed through the hole 52,

tion of the wire or rod extending through thehole 52 formed by the sidewall and bracketwill be rotated beyond the dead center when the angular or upper portion or handle is positioned parall'el with said sidewall so that accidental rotation of said clamp device will be prei- 'ented and assurance had under all conditions of use that the bracket will be maintained in any adjusted position.

The clamp element 53 may be said to be interposed between the bracket 44' and the *When the brackets 44-are "applied to-the side wall of the box, and under-the principle involved, at least a portion thereof has a greater width in-one direction than in another so that when positioned with its handle arranged in one direction, as shown in Fig. 4, the smaller width will be in the direction of alineeXtending at right angles to the face of the box, while when said handle is in another direction, the greatest width will be parallel with said line or at a slight anglethereto,preferably the latter, so as to force the. bracket away from the side wall of the box and bring the same in firm contact with the heads of the screws passed through said bracket. v V a It is of course understood that the usual electrical devices are placed within the boxand the proper knockouts'removed from any wall orwalls thereof for passing wire, or

loom with the wires therein, through the openings formed by removing said knockouts, the-wires being adapted for connection with the electrical'apparatus within the box.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is a p 1'. The combination with an outlet box, of a bracket applied to the outer side of one of the wallsofsaid' box and h'aving a pair-of parallel slots therein, headed screws passed through said slots and threaded into the wall,

1 and movable means interposed between said bracket and said wall adapted upon movement to a certain position to force said bracket against the heads of said screws and thereby clamp said bracket in any adjusted position.

2. The combination with an outlet box, of a bracket applied to the outer side of one ofthe walls of said box and having spaced parallel slots, headed elements passed through said slots and fastened into said wall, and a rod interposed between said bracket and said wall and having'greater cross-sectional dimension in one direction than the other, said rod when havlng its greatest cross-sectional dlmension parallel with said bracket permitting free adjustment of, said bracket and when having said greatest dimension at right anglesto said bracket, or substantially so, serving to force said bracket outwardly against the heads of saidheaded elements.

3. The combination with an outlet box, of a bracket applied to one of the walls ofsaid box, said bracket having a body portion and an outstanding flange and the body portion ly against the headsof said headed elements.

4. The combination withan outlet box, of a bracket applied to the outer side of one of the walls of said box, said bracket being formed of sheet metal having also a body portion and an outstanding flange at the upper end of said body portion, said bracket having also an opening at the junction of said body portion and said flange extending partly into said body portion and partly into said flange, the body portion of said bracket having a vertical slot near each end thereof and a vertical groove on its inner side between said slots, screws passed through said slots and threaded into said wall, a rod disposed within said groove and having greater crosssectional dimension in one direction than the other, said rod extending up through the opening formed at the junction of said body portion and flange and having its upper end bent at a right angle, said rod being adapted to be rotated within said grooveso that in one position its greatest cross-sectional dimension is in the direction of the length of said bracket and in its other position at a slight angle to a plane at right angles thereto.

5. In an outlet box or the like, a securing bracket adjustable on one of the walls thereof and comprising a flat body portion and an outstanding flange at the upper "end of said flat body portion, and means between said wall and body portion movable from one position to another and adapted to secure said bracket in any adjusted position when in one of, said two positions.

6. In an outlet box or the like, a securing bracket adjustable on one of the walls thereof,

means on said wall for limiting the outward movement of said bracket, and means interposed between said wall and said bracket for forcing said bracket against said, limiting limit the outward movement thereof, andi'a cam device interposedbet-ween said wall and bracket adapted to loosen or tighten said bracket on said wall. c f

8. In an outlet box or thelike, a bracket adjust-able on one wall thereof, 'means on said wall limiting the outward movement of 7. an outlet box ,adjustable on one of the walls thereof, means onsaid wall co-acting with saidbracketto said bracket, a rod interposed between said a,

Wall and said bracket and having greater cross-sectional dimension in one directionv than the other, said rod having its upper end bent at a right-angle to form a handle extending outwardly from said wall when the greatest cross-sectional dimension of said rod is parallel with said bracket, said handle being adapted to be swung into aposition parallel with said wall to rotate said rod and position the same that its greatest crosssectional dimension is at a slight angle beyond a plane at right anglesto said wall.

:9; In an outlet box or the like,'a bracket applied to one of the wallsthereof, means on said wall for limiting the outward movement of said bracket and a rotatable cam element interposed between said wall and bracket, said cam element when rotated in one direction serving to loosen said bracket and when rotated in the other direction assuming a position beyond the dead center and forcing said bracket outwardly'against said limiting means.

10. The combination with an outlet box, of a bracket adjustable on one of the walls of said box, means permitting the adjustment of said bracket on said wall while retaining said bracket thereon, and clamping means interposed between the inner side of said bracket and the opposed surface of said wall to clamp said bracket in adjusted position,

11. The combination with an outlet box,

of a bracket adjustable on one of the walls of said box, means for adjustably holding said bracket against said wall, and a cam device interposed between the inner surface of said bracket and the outer surface of said wall and movable to clamp said bracket in any adjustable position on said wall.

12. The combination with an outlet box,

of a bracket adjustable on one of the wallsv of said box, means for adjustably. holding said bracket on said wall, and a rod of sub-:

sta-ntially oval formation in cross sectioninterposed between said bracketand said wall, said rod being adapted for rotation to clamp said bracket in any adjusted position."

13. The combination with an outlet box, f a a ct a j a le on ne of the walls oi gaigtbax; means for rectilin ea-rl guiding thbrkcket; and movable means inter' osed between said bracket and said Wall ad'a'pt'ed u'po'n"inovinent,'toa. certain position to secui'eljy fasten the bracket in its rectilinearly guiddposit i'on. 4 I f I-n testimony 'whereqf I am my signature. OTTO G. HOFFMAN. 

